One of the best features of Genshin Impact is that every character is a master of an Element. From Pyro (fire), Geo (earth), Electro (lightning), Cryo (ice), Dendro (nature), Anemo (wind), and Hydro (water), these Elements can synergize and create strong elemental reactions to defeat enemies.
In this post, we look at all the playable Hydro characters and rank them from the most powerful all the way to the average. Learn also about Hydro elemental reactions to sink a horde of Fatuis and Hilichurls.
Hydro Elemental Reactions
Elemental reactions happen when two or more elemental statuses combine. Here are the elemental reactions for Hydro.
- Vaporize (Pyro + Hydro): Deals x2 Hydro Damage when a Hydro attack triggers the reaction.
- Freeze (Cryo + Hydro): Freezes the target. If the frozen target is hit by a Claymore, a Plunge Attack, or Geo Damage, it will cause Shattered. Shattering a frozen target deal extra Physical Damage.
- Electro-Charge (Electro + Hydro): Deals twice Electro Damage to target. If there are nearby Wet targets, the shock bounces between all wet characters in an AoE.
Hydro Characters (From Most Powerful)
Tartaglia
Tartaglia aka Childe is Genshin Impact’s best Hydro DPS character – period. As one of the more dangerous members of the Harbingers, he has quick attacks and deals relentless Hydro damage. Hitting enemies with his Riptide causes extra damage and comes with a splash effect to damage other enemies. Tartaglia’s 5-Star rarity is a sparkling indication of how powerful he is.
Combat Information
Normal Attack: Cutting Torrent
*Normal Attack: Perform up to 6 consecutive shots with a bow.
*Charged Attack: Perform a more precise Aimed Shot with increased DMG. While aiming, the power of Hydro will accumulate on the arrowhead. An arrow fully charged with the torrent will deal Hydro DMG and apply the Riptide status.
*Riptide: Opponents affected by Riptide will suffer from AoE Hydro DMG effects when attacked by Tartaglia in various ways. DMG dealt in this way is considered Normal Attack dmg.
*Plunging Attack: Fires off a shower of arrows in mid-air before falling and striking the ground, dealing AoE DMG upon impact. When Tartaglia is in Foul Legacy: Raging Tide’s Melee Stance, he cannot perform a plunging attack.
Elemental Skill: Foul Legacy: Raging Tide
Tartaglia unleashes a set of weaponry made of pure water, dealing Hydro DMG to surrounding opponents and entering Melee Stance where his Normal and Charged Attacks are converted to Hydro DMG that cannot be overridden by any other elemental infusion.
Elemental Burst: Havoc: Obliteration
Tartaglia performs different attacks based on what stance he is in when casting.
Ranged Stance: Flash of Havoc: Swiftly fires a Hydro-imbued magic arrow, dealing AoE Hydro DMG and applying the Riptide status. Returns a portion of its Energy Cost after use.
Melee Stance: Light of Obliteration: Performs a slash with a large AoE, dealing massive Hydro DMG to all surrounding opponents, which triggers Riptide Blast.
Riptide Blast: When the obliterating waters hit an opponent affected by Riptide, it clears their Riptide status and triggers a Hydro Explosion that deals AoE Hydro DMG.
Passive
*Never Ending: Extends Riptide duration by 8s.
*Sword of Torrents: When Tartaglia is in Foul Legacy: Raging Tide’s Melee stance, on dealing a CRIT hit, Normal and Charged Attacks apply the Riptide status effects to opponents.
*Master of Weaponry: Increases your own party members’ Normal Attack Level by 1.
Weapon: Bow
Mona
Mona is the other Hydro character with a 5-Star rarity. She is an astrologist with tremendous skills and equally enormous pride. Her combat skills are mighty and effective especially if you play her in a support role. She summons powerful waves and waterspouts that deal massive AoE damage to surrounding enemies. Her normal attack looks quite similar to Barbara’s but stronger. She can also deceive enemies by summoning explosive Phantoms that deliver heavy damage.
Combat Information
Normal Attack: Ripple of Fate
*Normal Attack: Perform up to 4 water splash attacks that deal Hydro DMG.
*Charged Attack: Consumes a certain amount of Stamina to deal AoE Hydro DMG after a short casting time.
*Plunging Attack: Gathering the might of Hydro, Mona plunges towards the ground from mid-air, damaging all opponents in her path. Deals AoE Hydro DMG upon impact with the ground.
Elemental Skill: Mirror Reflection of Doom
Mona creates an illusory Phantom of fate from coalesced waterspouts.The Phantom has the following special properties:
Continuously taunts nearby opponents, attracting their fire.
Each second, 4 times, deals AoE Hydro DMG.
When its duration expires, the Phantom explodes, dealing AoE Hydro DMG
Alternate Sprint: Mona cloaks herself within the water’s flow, consuming stamina to move rapidly. When under the effect of Illusory Torrent, Mona can move at high speed on water.
Elemental Burst: Stellaris Phantasm
Mona summons the sparkling waves and creates a reflection of the starry sky, applying the Illusory Bubble status to the opponents in a large AoE.
Illusory Bubble: Traps opponents inside a pocket of destiny and also makes them Wet. Renders weaker opponents immobile.
Passive
*Come ‘n’ Get Me, Hag!: After she has used Illusory Torrent for 2s, if there are any opponents nearby, Mona will automatically create a Phantom. A Phantom created in this manner lasts for 2s, and its explosion DMG is equal to 50% of Mirror Reflection of Doom.
*Waterborne Destiny: Increases Mona’s Hydro DMG Bonus by a degree equivalent to 20% of her Energy Recharge rate.
*Principium of Astrology: When Mona crafts Weapon Ascension Materials, she has a 25% chance to refund one count of one material out of all the crafting materials used.
Weapon: Catalyst
Xingqiu
Xingqiu, the self-proclaimed practitioner of the Guhua Clan’s arts, is a ball of mischief. As a bookworm, his lifelong dream is to become a chivalrous hero that he frequently reads about, but his antics seem to make it the other way around. Xingqiu makes for a great sub DPS role with his hydro-sword-wielding prowess. When you look at the fighting department, Xingqiu goes ahead of Barbara. His basic attack may not be as scathing as that of Tartaglia but it definitely does the job.
Combat Information
Normal Attack: Guhua Style
*Normal Attack: Perform up to 5 rapid strikes.
*Charged Attack: Consumes a certain amount of Stamina to unleash 2 rapid sword strikes.
*Plunging Attack: Plunges from mid-air to strike the ground below, damaging opponents along the path and dealing AoE DMG upon impact.
Elemental Skill: Guhua Sword: Fatal Rainscreen
Xingqiu performs twin strikes with his sword, dealing Hydro DMG. At the same time, this ability creates the maximum number of Rain Swords, which will orbit your active character.
The Rain Swords have the following properties:
*When a character takes DMG, the Rain Sword will shatter, reducing the amount of DMG taken.
*Increase the character’s resistance to interruption.
*20% of Xingqiu’s Hydro DMG Bonus will be converted to additional DMG Reduction for the Rain Swords. The maximum amount of additional DMG Reduction that can be gained this way is 24%.
*The initial maximum number of Rain Swords is 3.
*Using this ability applies the Wet status onto the character.
Elemental Burst: Guhua Sword: Raincutter
Initiate Rainbow Bladework and fight using an illusory sword rain, while creating the maximum number of Rain Swords.
Passive
*Hydropathic: When a Rain Sword is shattered or when its duration expires, it regenerates the current character’s HP based on 6% of Xingqiu’s Max HP.
*Blades Amidst Raindrops: Xingqiu gains a 20% Hydro DMG Bonus.
*Flash of Genius: When Xingqiu crafts Character Talent Materials, he has a 25% chance to refund a portion of the crafting materials used.
Weapon: Sword
Barbara
Did someone call for some healing? Barbara will not let you down. She’s a deaconess of the Church of Favonius, loved by many from Mondstadt, and is also a self-proclaimed “idol”. If you plan on putting her into your party rotation, do not count on her in terms of damage dealing. Instead, get the most of her potential with her Shining Miracle which instantly heals a large amount of HP for your allies.
Combat Information
Normal Attack: Whisper of Water
*Normal Attack: Perform up to 4 water splash attacks that deal Hydro DMG.
*Charged Attack: Consumes a certain amount of Stamina to deal AoE Hydro DMG after a short casting time.
*Plunging Attack: Gathering the might of Hydro, Barbara plunges towards the ground from mid-air, damaging all opponents in her path. Deals AoE Hydro DMG upon impact with the ground.
Elemental Skill: Let the Show Begin
Summons water droplets resembling musical notes that form a Melody Loop, dealing Hydro DMG to surrounding opponents and afflicting them with the Wet status.
Melody Loop:
*Barbara’s Normal Attacks heal your characters in the party and nearby allied characters for a certain amount of HP, which scales with Barbara’s Max HP.
*Her Charged Attack generates 4 times the amount of healing.
*Regenerates a certain amount of HP at regular intervals for your active character.
*Applies the Wet status to the character and opponents who come in contact with them.
Elemental Burst: Shining Miracle
Heals nearby allied characters and your characters in the party for a large amount of HP that scales with Barbara’s Max HP.
Passive
*Glorious Season: The Stamina Consumption of characters within Let the Show Begin’s Melody Loop is reduced by 12%.
*Encore: When your active character gains an Elemental Orb/Particle, the duration of Let the Show Begin’s Melody Loop is extended by 1s. The maximum extension is 5s.
*With My Whole Heart: When Perfect Cooking is achieved on a dish with restorative effects, Barbara has a 12% chance to obtain double the product.
Weapon: Catalyst
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